Logline: Montreal. 1920. Lady Joséphine is the big burlesque star of the moment and is giving a show in a small cabaret. Backstage, she’s getting ready to dance, while being watched by her rivals. The characters embark upon a choreographed fight, wild and passionate.

Length: 6min

Director: Anne-Marie Denault

Producer: Fabienne Couture, Moon Factory Productions

About the director and producer: Anne-Marie's foray into film began with a desire to change the way health organizations and media deliver health research to the public. She has directed many films including, documentaries and short films. Pasty, her last short film has won best foreign short at the Hollywood International Motion Picture Film Festival.

After a strong start of her career in the Canadian Film Industry, both in Montreal and Toronto, she decided to continue in film with the opening of her own production company, Moon Factory Productions, where she produces videos with purpose from concept to distribution.

She has a degree in business management from McGill University and a Master’s in communications from the Université du Québec à Montréal.

Looking for: Investors for my next film

Funders: Moon Factory Productions

Made in association with: Kabaret Kino de Montréal

Release date: October 2015

Why did you make a film called Pasty?

I wanted to portrait woman’s competing for man’s attention. I just think it is absurd and interesting.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

You should watch it because it is beautiful, rhythmical and leaves you with an interesting message.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Woman’s competition to get man’s attention can be found everywhere in the world, on every level, and is probably one of the main source of conflict a beautiful woman will have in her life: protecting herself from jealousy.

I also think that the competition is interesting and we are all a little guilty of taking part in it: either as a participant, or as a viewer.

Pasty

How has the script and film evolved over the course of its development and production?

One morning I woke up feeling a little grungy. I ran into my neighbour as I opened the door to my studio and her small dog urinated on my door step. She had to run out and I wiped it off feeling a little frustrated. The same night, I had a dream I got into a fight with this neighbour.

Not that I dislike her, but I guess that incident annoyed me more than I thought. I was participating in a competition for the Kino Kabaret in Montreal and I had yet to write the script. The inspiration came from that event. I wanted to film two chick fighting. My producer, Fabienne Couture suggested to stage this event in a Burlesque show. That's how it all came about.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

It’s beautiful and breaks the third wall.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I find it interesting what people think this movie is about when they watch it. Everybody has their own interpretation. I quite like this.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

Funding for my next movie.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

I want woman to recognize the absurdity of their actions. I also want us to feel a little guilty about woman being pushed to compete with each other.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

What’s going on in the back stage of a burlesque show?

Would you like to add anything else?

Here is my demo reel. I am available for other projects: https://vimeo.com/164927046

What are you working on now?

My next short fil : The King’s Daugthers. I am pitching during the festival at the Pitch competition. Please vote for me! J